Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Thames and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Thames is 3.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 51.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Thames is 50.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 31% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.31 NZ$25.25
$11.99 MX$227
27.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9 NZ$132
$42.47 MX$803
88.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 NZ$16.39
$10.47 MX$198
-5.06%
Cappuccino
$3.52 NZ$5.8
$3.6 MX$68.2
-2.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 NZ$3.73
$1.44 MX$27.16
56.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 NZ$3.78
$0.89 MX$16.79
157.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.12 NZ$11.75
$3.09 MX$58.5
130.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 NZ$12.02
$4.58 MX$86.6
59.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.8 NZ$2.96
$1.38 MX$26.04
30.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 NZ$3.41
$1.85 MX$34.9
11.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.29
$1.57 MX$29.68
26.75%
Eggs
$6.88 NZ$11.35
$2.55 MX$48.3
169.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.48 NZ$13.99
$8.61 MX$163
-1.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.8 NZ$16.16
$8.54 MX$161
14.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.97 NZ$21.4
$10.98 MX$208
18.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 NZ$4.83
$2.72 MX$51.4
7.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 NZ$3.59
$1.51 MX$28.57
44.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 NZ$5.56
$1.88 MX$35.63
79.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 NZ$6.79
$2.19 MX$41.42
88.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 NZ$3.29
$1.87 MX$35.3
6.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 NZ$2.79
$2.19 MX$41.37
-22.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 NZ$3.21
$1.07 MX$20.23
81.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 NZ$2.1
$1.09 MX$20.64
16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.93 NZ$41.11
$3.96 MX$74.9
529.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.35 NZ$18.73
$8.86 MX$167
28.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 NZ$4.92
$1.72 MX$32.53
73.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 NZ$6.49
$2.61 MX$49.37
50.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 NZ$3.4
$0.52 MX$9.74
296.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 NZ$107
$26.59 MX$503
143.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.16 NZ$3.56
$3.24 MX$61.2
-33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 NZ$3.32
$2.38 MX$44.94
-15.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.55 NZ$58.6
$3.11 MX$58.7
1043.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 NZ$2.82
$1.31 MX$24.85
30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K NZ$47.3K
$30.3K MX$573K
-5.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K NZ$35.9K
$24K MX$453.6K
-9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 NZ$237
$84.2 MX$1,592
70.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 NZ$49.41
$22.14 MX$419
35.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.04 NZ$80.9
$30.14 MX$570
62.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 NZ$60.4
$52 MX$983
-29.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.04 NZ$19.86
$18.72 MX$354
-35.68%
Cinema Ticket
$14.99 NZ$24.72
$5.07 MX$95.9
195.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$893 NZ$1,472
$200 MX$3,787
345.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K NZ$22.3K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
153.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2 NZ$116
$35.74 MX$676
96.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 NZ$83.5
$39.8 MX$753
27.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 NZ$159
$79 MX$1,493
22.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 NZ$208
$88.4 MX$1,671
43.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$958 NZ$1,581
$965 MX$18.3K
-0.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 NZ$1,275
$474 MX$8,968
63.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 NZ$2,622
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-3.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 NZ$2,335
$1,202 MX$22.7K
17.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,813 NZ$7,937
$3,081 MX$58.3K
56.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,741 NZ$6,169
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-50.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$792 MX$15K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
11.42
-44.22%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Thames: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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